Needing advice for a good scanner

[bpolly2004]

I'm looking for a fairly inexpensive scan tool. No more than 250 bucks or so. I maintain my family's cars but don't have a need for the high end expensive things that require a subscription. I want to do more than a code reader. I've seen harbor freight has some scanners but I've read the reviews and got skeptical.

Today I had a crank but no start in my ram. Left me in the cold a bit at the grocery store. I checked fuses and it was a 30a tow fuse. But after I walked a mile or two to get the fuse then the truck fired right up. Took the truck home and now it won't start up again. It's a crank but no start. All fuses are now good. Sounds like fuel pump is priming. Not sure where else to check


I've seen. My family's vehicles are 2009 ram
2010 chrysler town and country
2014 jeep patriot
2011 ford escape
2014 ford taurus

I'd like to be able to use on other vehicles as need arises.
I'm open to suggestions and advice. Thanks

 

[HEMIMANN]

I spent many weeks comparing these tools several years ago and settled on a mid-capability tool: Autel MaxiCOM MK808S.

It does most of what we need. It is also upgradable.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Go to Temu (or Amazon) and look up (research) the Topdon scanners. If you can squeeze your budget up to the mid or upper $300 range, you get a few more key features you might someday want/need, and some free upgrades (for a period). My brother just bought one like that. Seems like a nice unit.

Probably best to set price aside, and make a list of features that you think you might *someday need* (program fobs? Brake bleed?, Graphing?) as your skills grow. Then evaluate scanners that include those. See where you needs fall. Then start evaluating price. Match your needs to the scanner and worry about the price later. If you're lucky the two needs will align. A lot of people tend to under-buy and later end up buying a 2nd more-comprehensive scan tool and could have just spent a little more up front. I'm guilty of that too...lol

Remember, some vehicles past 2017 might need an interface cable to access the vehicle's computer (for security reasons). Worth looking up the vehicles you currently have.